ABMS Board Certifi cation Report

Transcription

1 ABMS Board Certifi cation Report 1933 American Board of Dermatology 1933 American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1933 Amer logy 1933 American Board of Ophthalmology 1933 American Board of Otolaryngology American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Board Certifi cation 1935 American Board of Pediatrics atrics 1935 American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology 1935 American Board of Radiology American Board of Urology Physician Excellence 1936 American Board of Internal Medicine ine 1936 American Board of Pathology 1937 American Board of Surgery Lifelong Learning 1940 Americ 1940 American Board of Neurological Surgery 1941 American Board of Anesthesiology 1941 Amer thesiology Quality Improvement 1941 American Board of Plastic Surgery 1947 American urgery 1947 American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 1949 American Board tion 1949 American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery 1949 American Board of Preventive Medicine 1969 American Board of Family Medicine Better Care 1971 American Board of Allergy and Immunology nology 1971 American Board of Nuclear Medicine 1971 American Board of Thoracic Surgery 1979 acic Surgery 1979 American Board of Emergency Medicine 1991 American Board of Medical Genetics

2 B Introduction The ABMS Board Certifi cation Report reflects recently analyzed information and data about the certifi cation programs administered by the Member Boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). ABMS may from time to time delete, modify, or add tables. To obtain specific information for research, media, or other purposes, please contact the ABMS Communications team. OTHER ABMS RESOURCES offers information about the certifi cation programs of the ABMS Member Boards. Visitors can learn about the work of our professional and business units including the ABMS Research and Education Foundation, ABMS Solutions, the Multispecialty Portfolio Approval Program, and ABMS International. Information also is provided on how to check a physician s certifi cation and status in the ABMS Program for Maintenance of Certifi cation (ABMS MOC ). ABMS Guide To Medical Specialties features descriptions of each specialty and subspecialty for which certifi cation is offered by an ABMS Member Board. Board Certifi cation Report Overview Key Information Summary About ABMS ABMS Programmatic Highlights Board Certification Program Information Table 1A: ABMS Member Board Approved General Certifi cates Table 1B: ABMS Member Board Approved Subspecialty Certifi cates Footnotes to Table 1A and 1B Table 2A: ABMS Member Board Requirements for General Certifi cation Table 2B: ABMS Member Board Requirements for Subspecialty Certifi cation Table 2C: Administering Board for Certifi cates Offered by Multiple ABMS Member Boards Table 2D: Requirements for the ABMS Program for Maintenance of Certifi cation (ABMS MOC ) Board Certification Data Whenever this information is used in part or in whole, or when referencing it as part of a report or article, we request that acknowledgment be given to the American Board of Medical Specialties. Table 3A: ABMS Member Board General Certifi cates Issued ( ) Table 3B: Geographic Distribution of ABMS Member Board Diplomates by General Certifi cate Table 3C: ABMS Member Board Subspecialty Certifi cates Issued ( ) Table 3D: Geographic Distribution of ABMS Member Board Diplomates by Subspecialty Certifi cate

3 INTRODUCTION 1 ABMS BOARD CERTIFICATION REPORT OVERVIEW Each year, the ABMS Member Boards submit information and data describing their Certifi cation programs and their activities for the ABMS Program for Maintenance of Certifi cation (ABMS MOC ). The ABMS Board Certifi cation Report is a concise reference on the certifi cations offered and awarded to physicians who meet the requirements and standards set by the boards. The fi rst section of the report features the specialty and subspecialty certifi cates approved for issue by the boards and the basic requirements physicians must meet for initial certifi cation and maintaining certifi cation. The next section includes a year-byyear analysis, showing trends in the number of specialty and subspecialty certifi cations issued from It also includes a snapshot of the active certifi cates held by ABMS Member Board certifi ed physicians according to geographic location. Information and Data Sources Content appearing in the ABMS Board Certifi cation Report represents a combination of information reported through by the ABMS boards and point-in-time data from the ABMS certifi cation database, unless otherwise noted. The ABMS certifi cation database includes information on more than 800,000 specialty physicians. This information is recognized by The Joint Commission, the National Committee for Quality Assurance, URAC and other agencies to satisfy Primary Source Verifi cation (PSV) as needed by credentialing and professional organizations. The database is refreshed daily with data provided by the ABMS boards or from a physician s request to update. The data are analyzed and thoroughly checked for quality and accuracy. Once this process is complete, information is made accessible through our public resources and professional licensing and subscription services. KEY INFORMATION SUMMARY In 2013, a total of 27,705 new general certificates were issued to physicians by the 24 ABMS Member Boards. Since 2004, these boards have issued 255,775 certifi cates in all. The following boards issued the greatest number of new general certifi cates in 2013: Internal Medicine (7,380), Family Medicine (3,370), Pediatrics (3,013), Psychiatry and Neurology (2,298), Radiology (1,765), and Emergency Medicine (1,678). The ABMS Member Boards report a total of 844,486 active general certificates in the United States, Canada, and within the United States military (according to 12/2014 data). The states with the greatest number of active certifi cates are: California (95,740), New York (65,779), Texas (51,702), Florida (43,756), Pennsylvania (38,123), and Illinois (33, 779). More than 500,000 physicians are participating in an ABMS MOC program today, and the number increases annually. ABMS MOC activities emphasize ongoing professional development and assessment that is aligned with other professional expectations and requirements within health care. Board certification and ABMS MOC are peer developed, externally validated programs that serve as important markers for a higher standard of care. Patients, physicians, health care providers, insurers, and quality organizations look for these markers as the best measure of a physician s knowledge, experience, and skills to provide quality health care within a given specialty.

4 ABOUT ABMS 2 ABMS, in partnership with its 24 certifying Member Boards, serves the public and the medical profession by improving the quality of health care through setting professional and educational standards for medical specialty practice and certifi cation. Since its founding in 1933, ABMS has evolved these standards to support advancements in medicine, science, and technology, and changes in health care delivery processes. The standards and program guidelines set system-wide expectations and create consistency across the boards. Additionally, ABMS maintains a repository of certifi cation information used by the public, health care organizations, educators, and researchers. Working with other professional organizations and agencies, the boards elevate the standards for patient care and care improvements across specialties. The focus on continuous professional development and participation in national initiatives translates into innovations in health care that improve the health of communities across the nation, and enhancements of the quality of care each patient receives. ABMS MEMBER BOARDS The ABMS Member Boards were founded by their respective specialties to assess and certify physicians who demonstrate the clinical judgment, skills, and attitudes essential for the delivery of excellent patient care. Each board represents a distinct and welldefi ned fi eld of medical practice that is based on major concepts in medical science and supported by distinct and accredited training programs. The boards are independent entities, governed by a voluntary board of directors and managed by a dedicated professional staff. Each sets the standards particular to its specialty, determines how performance against those standards will be assessed, and makes tools and services available to support medical specialists engagement in professional development and performance improvement. The boards offer certifi cation in more than 150 specialties and subspecialties. Their innovative initiatives for physicians continuous learning have raised the bar for physician certifi cation. Some of these activities have included: Performance in practice modules that emphasize education and quality improvement measures for patient care. Patient safety self-assessment activities designed to improve the delivery of safe and effective patient care. LEADER, CONTRIBUTOR, INFLUENCER Our role within the health care system is to be a leader, contributor, and influencer in quality improvement through the assessment and continuous professional development of physicians. We work with organizations across the continuum of medical education and practice, coordinating activities with existing initiatives such as meaningful use, performance improvement and patient safety, operational efficiency, commitment to care, and practice quality. National registries for case logs and procedural outcomes to help with practice assessment and benchmarking with peer practitioners. Simulation courses to help identify challenges/vulnerabilities in a practice environment and implement steps to improve patient outcomes. Focused practice pathways offering opportunities to demonstrate and be recognized for additional expertise.

5 The Member Boards and Associate Members of ABMS 3 ABMS works with its Member Boards and Associate Members to improve the quality of graduate medical education, the standards of medical practice, and the physician certification process. Contact information for the ABMS boards can be found on the back cover. ABMS MEMBER BOARDS Includes the year approved as an ABMS Member Board 1933 Founding Member Boards: American Board of Dermatology American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology American Board of Ophthalmology American Board of Otolaryngology 1935 American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery American Board of Pediatrics American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology American Board of Radiology American Board of Urology 1936 American Board of Internal Medicine American Board of Pathology 1937 American Board of Surgery 1940 American Board of Neurological Surgery 1941 American Board of Anesthesiology American Board of Plastic Surgery 1947 American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 1949 American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery American Board of Preventive Medicine 1969 American Board of Family Medicine 1971 American Board of Allergy and Immunology American Board of Nuclear Medicine American Board of Thoracic Surgery 1979 American Board of Emergency Medicine 1991 American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics ASSOCIATE MEMBERS OF ABMS Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Evaluates and accredits institutions and organizations offering Continuing Medical Education (CME) in the United States, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Evaluates and accredits post-md medical residency programs in the United States, American Hospital Association (AHA) National membership organization representing members perspectives and needs in national health policy development, legislative and regulatory debates, and judicial matters, American Medical Association (AMA) National membership organization uniting physicians in the United States to focus on professional and public health issues, Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) National membership organization for enhancing the effectiveness of academic medicine, Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) National membership organization providing an independent forum for discussion by medical specialists on issues of national interest and mutual concern, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Organization that evaluates whether international medical graduates (IMGs) are ready to enter United States graduate medical programs, and offers a variety of other programs for IMGs and the entities worldwide that educate, train register/license, and employ them, Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) Policy-focused organization promoting best practices in medical regulation and encouraging uniformity in how states license and discipline physicians. It collaborates with NBME to provide the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Assessment organization that, along with FSMB, co-sponsors the USMLE, which is accepted by medical licensing authorities as the standard by which to judge candidates for medical licensure, ABOUT SPECIALTIES AND SUBSPECIALTIES Visit to read descriptions of each specialty and subspecialty for which certification is offered by an ABMS Member Board (s).

6 ABMS Programmatic Highlights 4 Advancing professional standards for lifelong certification of physicians Wecontinually evolve the professional and educational standards for medical specialty certifi cation and support continuous learning activities to improve patient care and health outcomes. Standards Achievement Quality Improvement Research and Reference Board Certification and Maintaining Certifi cation (ABMS MOC ) 150+ specialties and subspecialties 800, ,000+ certifi ed physicians engaged in MOC activities Based on 6 core competencies: Professionalism Patient care and procedural skills Medical knowledge Practice-based learning and improvement Interpersonal and communication skills Systems-based resources Multi-Specialty Portfolio ABMS Evidence Library Approval Program TM A program that helps advance quality improvement and physician engagement in MOC through the efforts of qualifi ed health care organizations ,000+ approved health care organization portfolio sponsors approved quality improvement projects physicians received MOC professional development credit Empirical evidence found in current peer-reviewed literature that supports board certification and continuous professional development through MOC. 206 journal articles 1,000 authors Study characteristics include: Randomized controlled trials Cohort (observational-retrospective and prospective) - Systematic reviews - Surveys - Time series Articles published between

7 ABMS Program for Maintenance of Certification (ABMS MOC) 10 Typical number of years for an MOC cycle PATIENT SAFETY is a requirement in the ABMS MOC standards 25 Minimum number of Continuing Education Credits (CME) required per year Physician MOC STATUS information is available from ABMS MOC Program Activities ABMS MOC contributes to the quality of patient care through ongoing professional development and assessment that is aligned with other professional expectations and requirements. Some key program activities are highlighted here. Patient Safety Activities Opportunities to assess and learn safety science and principles. Prevention/mitigation through technology Effective disclosure Culture of safety Risk assessment and evaluation Registries Repository of clinical treatment and care information for trending and outcome analysis. Clinical data Case mix National benchmarking Patient follow up Practice Improvement Activities Tools to measure performance and implement improvements. Specialty-specifi c CME Clinical simulation Patient logs Peer surveys Patient experience of care surveys

8 BOARD CERTIFICATION PROGRAM INFORMATION 6 INITIAL CERTIFICATION The ABMS Member Boards certifi cation programs are rooted in the professional and educational standards set by ABMS and the boards for medical specialty practice and certifi cation. The program involves two basic phases of assessment within a continuous process: initial certifi cation and maintaining certifi cation. Initial certifi cation occurs soon after completion of residency training. Each ABMS board has identified what candidates must accomplish in order to be eligible for certifi cation. Generally this involves: Finishing four years of premedical education in a college or university; Earning a medical degree (MD, DO or other credential approved by an ABMS Member Board) from a qualifi ed medical school; Completing three to fi ve years of full-time experience in a residency training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME); Providing letters of attestation from the program director and/or faculty; and Obtaining an unrestricted medical license to practice medicine in the United States or Canada. Candidates for certifi cation must then pass an exam created and administered by their specialty s board. These exams are developed by physicians and others who are subject experts in the specifi c area of medicine. Exams are developed against learning requirements, extensively tested, and refi ned over time. This is done to assure that the exam is a thorough, relevant, and fair assessment of a physician s medical knowledge, clinical judgment, and diagnostic skills. Candidates who have passed the exam and completed all other requirements are considered certified as a specialist and a diplomate of their specialty board. A similar eligibility process is followed for certified specialists seeking subspecialty certifi cation. Candidates must be certified by their specialty board, then complete additional training during or after residency and successfully complete assessments of knowledge and clinical judgment in their subspecialty discipline before being granted certifi cation in a subspecialty. See the tables in this section for more information on basic requirements for certifi cation. MAINTAINING CERTIFICATION ABMS Member Boards support physicians transition from training to practice through the ABMS Program for Maintenance of Certifi cation (ABMS MOC ). ABMS MOC provides physicians a mechanism to maintain their certifi cation through engagement in continuous, specialty-specifi c learning, assessment, and improvement activities. The activities in ABMS MOC are based on the competency framework, which refl ect the evidence-based guidelines, national clinical and quality standards, and specialty best practices agreed upon by the boards. Activities are practice relevant, allowing physicians to develop skills in interpersonal communication, team-based care, patient safety, and patient engagement. Subject experts at the boards and related societies actively seek or develop tools and make available learning opportunities to support the requirements of MOC. These can include clinical databases and registries, peer evaluations, and practice audits that gauge the physician, system, and patient relationship. Physicians complete the activities according to a schedule set by their specialty board. The activities also are aligned with similar professional performance assessment requirements. For more information, see the Requirements for the ABMS Program for MOC table in this section. THE COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK The competency framework, defi ned by ACGME and ABMS, represents the developmental outcomes (knowledge, skills, attitudes, and performance) that physicians demonstrate throughout their career. The competencies are aligned with the principles of the ABMS standards for certifi cation. They address performance expectations related to the various settings and challenges physicians encounter in practice. Professionalism Carrying out responsibilities safely and ethically. Patient care and procedural skills Providing compassionate, appropriate, and effective patient care. Medical knowledge Demonstrating medical knowledge and its application to patient care. Practice-based learning and improvement Continuously improving patient care through self-evaluation and lifelong learning. Interpersonal and communication skills Facilitating effective information exchange and collaboration with patients, their families, and other health professionals. Systems-based practice Calling on other system resources to provide optimal health care.

9 Table 1A: ABMS Member Board Approved General Certifi cates 7 A general certificate is first awarded by an ABMS Member Board to candidates who meet the requirements for certification in a specified field of medical practice. This table lists the general certificates currently approved for issue by the boards. Footnotes can be found on pages 11 and 12. Visit for the most current list of certificates offered by the ABMS Member Boards. Time-limited Certificates * Incorporation Approved As American Board of Year Member Board General Certificate First Issued (1) First Issued Duration Years Allergy and Immunology (5) Allergy and Immunology Anesthesiology Anesthesiology Colon and Rectal Surgery (5) Colon and Rectal Surgery Dermatology (2,5) Dermatology Emergency Medicine Emergency Medicine Family Medicine (10) Family Medicine (5) Continuous Internal Medicine (10) Internal Medicine Continuous Medical Genetics and Genomics (3,4,5) Clinical Biochemical Genetics Clinical Cytogenetics Clinical Genetics, MD Clinical Molecular Genetics Neurological Surgery Neurological Surgery Nuclear Medicine Nuclear Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology (2, 9) Obstetrics and Gynecology Ophthalmology (2) Ophthalmology Orthopaedic Surgery Orthopaedic Surgery Otolaryngology (2) Otolaryngology Pathology Pathology-Anatomic/Pathology-Clinical (6) Pathology-Anatomic (6) Pathology-Clinical (6) Pediatrics (10) Pediatrics Continuous Physical Medicine Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (6) and Rehabilitation Plastic Surgery Plastic Surgery Preventive Medicine (5) Aerospace Medicine Occupational Medicine Public Health and General Preventive Medicine (5, 6) Psychiatry and Neurology (10) Psychiatry Continuous Neurology Continuous Neurology with Special Qualifi cation Continuous in Child Neurology Radiology (5, 6, 7, 10) Diagnostic Radiology (5) Continuous Radiation Oncology (5, 6) Continuous Medical Physics (5, 7) Continuous Inerventional Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology Continuous Surgery General Surgery Vascular Surgery (8) Thoracic Surgery Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery (6) Urology Urology

10 Table 1B: ABMS Member Board Approved Subspecialty Certifi cates 8 A subspecialty certificate is awarded by one or more ABMS Member Boards in a component of a specialty or subspecialty. It can be granted only to specialists who have been certified by one or more board(s) in an area of general certification. This table lists the subspecialty certificates currently approved for issue by the boards. Footnotes can be found on pages 11 and 12. Visit for the most current list of certificates offered by the ABMS Member Boards. Time-limited Certificates * American Board of Subspecialty Certificate Date Approved by ABMS First Issued (1) First Issued Duration Years Allergy and Immunology (5, 6) Subspecialties Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine Hospice and Palliative Medicine Pain Medicine (6) Pediatric Anesthesiology Sleep Medicine Colon and Rectal Surgery (5) Subspecialties Dermatology (2,5) Dermatopathology Pediatric Dermatology Emergency Medicine Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine Emergency Medical Services Hospice and Palliative Medicine Internal Medicine-Critical Care Medicine Medical Toxicology Pain Medicine Pediatric Emergency Medicine Sports Medicine Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Family Medicine (10) Adolescent Medicine Continuous Geriatric Medicine Continuous Hospice and Palliative Medicine Continuous Pain Medicine 2014 Continuous Sleep Medicine Continuous Sports Medicine Continuous Internal Medicine (6, 10) Adolescent Medicine Continuous Adult Congenital Heart Disease 2012 Continuous Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology Continuous Cardiovascular Disease Continuous Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology (6) Continuous Critical Care Medicine Continuous Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (6) Continuous Gastroenterology Continuous Geriatric Medicine Continuous Hematology Continuous Hospice and Palliative Medicine Continuous Infectious Disease Continuous Interventional Cardiology Continuous Medical Oncology Continuous Nephrology Continuous Pulmonary Disease Continuous Rheumatology Continuous Sleep Medicine Continuous Sports Medicine Continuous Transplant Hepatology Continuous

11 Table 1B: ABMS Member Board Approved Subspecialty Certifi cates (continued) Footnotes can be found on pages 11 and Time-limited Certificates * American Board of Subspecialty Certificate Date Approved by ABMS First Issued (1) First Issued Duration Years Medical Genetics Medical Biochemical Genetics and Genomics (3,4,5) Molecular Genetic Pathology Neurological Surgery (5) Subspecialties Nuclear Medicine Subspecialties Obstetrics and Gynecology (2) Critical Care Medicine Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Gynecologic Oncology Hospice and Palliative Medicine Maternal and Fetal Medicine Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility (6) Ophthalmology (2) Subspecialties Orthopaedic Surgery Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Surgery of the Hand Otolaryngology (2) Neurotology (6) Pediatric Otolaryngology Plastic Surgery within the Head and Neck Sleep Medicine Pathology (5) Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine (6) Clinical Informatics Cytopathology Dermatopathology Neuropathology Pathology-Chemical (6) Pathology-Forensic (6) Pathology-Hematology (6) Pathology-Medical Microbiology (6) Pathology-Molecular Genetic (6) Pathology-Pediatric (6) Pediatrics (5, 6, 10) Adolescent Medicine Continuous Child Abuse Pediatrics Continuous Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Continuous Hospice and Palliative Medicine Continuous Medical Toxicology Continuous Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Continuous Pediatric Cardiology Continuous Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Continuous Pediatric Emergency Medicine Continuous Pediatric Endocrinology Continuous Pediatric Gastroenterology Continuous Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Continuous Pediatric Infectious Diseases Continuous Pediatric Nephrology Continuous

12 Table 1B: ABMS Member Board Approved Subspecialty Certifi cates (continued) Footnotes for Table 1B can be found on pages 11 and Time-limited Certificates * American Board of Subspecialty Certificate Date Approved by ABMS First Issued (1) First Issued Duration Years Pediatrics (5, 6, 10) (continued) Pediatric Pulmonology Continuous Pediatric Rheumatology Continuous Pediatric Transplant Hepatology Continuous Sleep Medicine Continuous Sports Medicine Continuous Physical Medicine Brain Injury Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospice and Palliative Medicine Neuromuscular Medicine Pain Medicine (6) Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Sports Medicine Plastic Surgery Plastic Surgery within the Head and Neck Surgery of the Hand Preventive Medicine (5) Clinical Informatics Medical Toxicology Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine (6) Psychiatry and Neurology (10) Addiction Psychiatry Continuous Brain Injury Medicine Continuous Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (6) Continuous Clinical Neurophysiology Continuous Epilepsy Continuous Forensic Psychiatry Continuous Geriatric Psychiatry Continuous Hospice and Palliative Medicine Continuous Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Continuous Neuromuscular Medicine Continuous Pain Medicine (6) Continuous Psychosomatic Medicine Continuous Sleep Medicine Continuous Vascular Neurology Continuous Radiology (5, 10) Hospice and Palliative Medicine Continuous Neuroradiology Continuous Nuclear Radiology Continuous Pediatric Radiology Continuous Vascular and Interventional Radiology Continuous Surgery Complex General Surgical Oncology Hospice and Palliative Medicine Pediatric Surgery Surgery of the Hand Surgical Critical Care Thoracic Surgery Congenital Cardiac Surgery Urology Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Pediatric Urology

13 Footnotes to Table 1A and 1B 11 * The ABMS Program for Maintenance of Certifi cation (ABMS MOC ) expands the certifi cation process to include assessment and learning activities that help physicians continually evaluate and refi ne their clinical judgment, procedural skills, and service to patients. Since the program requires ongoing professional activity, particular requirements must be completed before a physician receives an updated certifi cate. Certifi cate issued prior to 1972 when ABMS subspecialty recognition procedures were established. Certifi cates not yet issued. (1) First year certifi cate issued by the Member Board. (2) Founding member of ABMS. (3) In 2014, the ABMS Board of Directors approved a name change for the American Board of Medical Genetics (ABMG) to American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG). (4) ABMGG certifi cates established prior to becoming an ABMS Member Board. (5) The following certifi cates were issued only during years indicated below. American Board of Certificate Name Years Issued Allergy and Immunology Clinical and Laboratory Immunology Colon and Rectal Surgery Anorectal Surgery Proctology Dermatology Clinical and Laboratory Dermatological Immunology Internal Medicine Allergy and Immunology Clinical and Laboratory Immunology Medical Genetics and Genomics Clinical Biochemical/Molecular Genetics PhD Medical Genetics Neurological Surgery Critical Care Medicine (Certifi cate approved though none issued. ) Pathology Radioisotopic Pathology Immunopathology Pediatrics Allergy and Immunology Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Preventive Medicine General Preventive Medicine Public Health Radiology Diagnostic Radiology with Special Competence in Nuclear Radiology Diagnostic and Medical Nuclear Physics Diagnostic Roentgenology Nuclear Medicine Radiologic Physics Radiology Radium Therapy Roentgenology Roentgen Ray and Gamma Ray Physics Therapeutic and Diagnostic Radiological Physics Therapeutic and Medical Nuclear Physics Therapeutic Roentgenology X-Ray and Radium Physics WHY DOES CERTIFICATION MATTER? Board certification demonstrates that physicians have met rigorous standards through intensive study, self-assessment, and evaluation. It sets the stage for continual professional development through lifelong learning. PUBLIC INPUT ON NEW SPECIALTIES AND SUBSPECIALTIES The public can now review and comment on proposals for new specialties and subspecialties being considered by the ABMS Committee of Certification, Subcertification and Maintenance of Certification (COCERT). Calls for comment will be announced on the ABMS web site.

14 Footnotes to Table 1A and 1B (continued) 12 (6) The following certifi cates had a name change and were previously issued during the years indicated below. American Board of Current Certificate Name Previous Certificate Name Years Issued Under Previous Name Allergy and Immunology Clinical and Laboratory Immunology Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology Anesthesiology Pain Medicine Pain Management Family Medicine Family Medicine Family Practice Internal Medicine Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Cardiac Electrophysiology Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Endocrinology and Metabolism Obstetrics and Gynecology Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility Reproductive Endocrinology Otolaryngology Neurotology Otology/Neurotology Pathology Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine Blood Banking Pathology-Anatomic Anatomic Pathology Pathology-Anatomic/Pathology-Clinical Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology Pathology-Chemical Chemical Pathology Pathology-Clinical Clinical Pathology Pathology-Forensic Forensic Pathology Pathology-Hematology Hematology Pathology-Medical Microbiology Medical Microbiology Pathology Molecular Genetic Molecular Genetic Pathology Pathology-Pediatric Pediatric Pathology Pediatrics Clinical and Laboratory Immunology Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Pain Medicine Pain Management Preventive Medicine Public Health and General Preventive Medicine General Preventive Medicine/ Public Health / Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Undersea Medicine Psychiatry and Neurology Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Child Psychiatry Pain Medicine Pain Management Radiology Radiation Oncology Therapeutic Radiology Thoracic Surgery Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery Thoracic Surgery (7) The American Board of Radiology continues to issue the following certifi cates in the area of Medical Physics (formerly Radiologic Physics). The Board renamed the certifi cates in 2011, however the requirements for certifi cation were not changed. Current Certificate Name Years Issued Under Previous Name Diagnostic Medical Physics (formerly Diagnostic Radiological Physics) Nuclear Medical Physics (formerly Medical Nuclear Physics) Therapeutic Medical Physics (formerly Therapeutic Radiological Physics) (8) The American Board of Surgery initially offered a Certifi cate of Special Qualifi cations in 1982 and a Certifi cate of Added Qualifi cations in The Special Qualifi cations pathway was closed in 1989; both certifi cates were given through In 1998, the designations of Added and Special Qualifi cations were dropped and all specialty certifi cates were designated as Certifi cation in Vascular Surgery. Effective July 1, 2006, the American Board of Surgery re-designated its certifi cate in Vascular Surgery from that of subcertifi cation to one of general certifi cation. The certifi cates of surgeons certifying in Vascular Surgery by this new pathway are identical to those previously issued for successful certifi cation/recertifi cation in Vascular Surgery. (9) The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology offers a voluntary annual recertifi cation. For more information, contact the Member Board or visit their Web site. (10) For physicians certifi ed by the American Board of Family Medicine entering the board s MOC program in 2012 or later, and for physicians initially certifi ed by the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Pediatrics, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, or the American Board of Radiology, maintaining certifi cation is contingent upon their meeting the requirements for the specifi c board s MOC program, and therefore no certifi cation end date is provided. To maintain certifi cation from their specialty board, physicians must successfully complete specialty-specifi c requirements throughout their ongoing MOC cycles.

15 Table 2A: ABMS Member Board Requirements for General Certifi cation General certification is first awarded to candidates who meet the requirements in a specified field of medical practice. This table identifies specific requirements for initial general certification from each Member Board, but as published in this form, the table is necessarily over-simplified. To confi rm current offi cial policy, including examination requirements, application deadlines and fees, and board eligibility periods contact the particular board or visit their website. Footnotes can be found on page Years of Training Required ACGME accredited (1) Training Credit Accepted Board Eligibility (4) Full license required by all boards American Board of Prerequisite Training Specialty Training Clinical Experience n-acgme Requirement Accredited Training RCPSC (2) Board Eligible Period (Plus additional practice requirement) Transition Date Allergy and Immunology years 12/31/2017 Anesthesiology years 01/01/2019 Colon and Rectal Surgery years 12/31/2023 Dermatology years 12/31/2016 Emergency Medicine 3 or 4 5 years 12/31/2019 Family Medicine 3 7 years 01/01/2019 Internal Medicine 3 7 years 01/01/2019 Medical Genetics and Genomics Clinical Biochemical Genetics (*) 2 (3) 7 years 01/01/2019 Clinical Cytogenetics (*) 2 (3) 7 years 01/01/2019 Clinical Genetics, MD (*) years 01/01/2019 Clinical Molecular Genetics (*) 2 (3) 7 years 01/01/2019 Neurological Surgery 7 42 months 5 years 12/31/2018 Nuclear Medicine years NA (5) Obstetrics and Gynecology (+1) years 12/31/2018 Ophthalmology years 01/01/2019 Orthopaedic Surgery years NA (5) Otolaryngology 5 5 years 01/01/2019 Pathology Pathology-Anatomic (*) years 01/01/2019 Pathology-Anatomic/ Pathology-Clinical(*) years 01/01/2019 Pathology-Clinical (*) years 01/01/2019 TIME LIMITS FOR BECOMING BOARD CERTIFIED ABMS and the Member Boards have established limits for the number of years that can elapse between a physician s completion of residency training and achievement of certification. The board eligibility time limits set by each of the boards are shown in this table.

16 Table 2A: ABMS Member Board Requirements for General Certifi cation (continued) 14 Years of Training Required ACGME Accredited (1) Training Credit Accepted Board Eligibility (4) Full licence required by all boards American Board of Prerequisite Training Specialty Training Clinical Experience n-acgme Requirement Accredited Training RCPSC (2) Board Eligible Period (Plus additional practice requirement) Transition Date Pediatrics 3 7 years NA (5) Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation years 01/01/2019 Plastic Surgery (+1) years 01/01/2019 Preventive Medicine Aerospace Medicine (*) years 01/01/2019 Occupational Medicine (*) years 01/01/2019 Public Health and General Preventive Medicine (*) years 01/01/2019 Psychiatry and Neurology Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology (*) years 01/01/2019 Neurology (*) years 01/01/2019 Psychiatry (*) years 01/01/2019 Radiology Diagnostic Radiology (*) years 01/01/2015 Radiation Oncology (*) years 01/01/2015 Medical Physics (*) 6 years 01/01/2017 Surgery General Surgery (*) 5 7 years 7/1/2022 Vascular Surgery (*) years 7/1/2022 Thoracic Surgery (6) 7 years NA (5) Urology or 4 16 months 6 years NA (5) (*) Specifi c disciplines within the specialty where certifi cation is offered. (1) Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) is the accrediting body for post-md medical training programs in the United States. (2) Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) is the organization which oversees the medical education of specialists in Canada. (3) Accepted by the Canadian College of Medical Genetics. (4) The ABMS Board Eligibility Policy, effective January 1, 2012, limits the period of time that may elapse between a physician s completion of training and achievement of initial certifi cation in a specialty. In implementing this policy, the boards that did not have an existing board eligibility policy in place established a board eligible period for candidates to achieve initial certifi cation following the successful completion of accredited training. This period can be 3 to 7 years plus time (if any) in practice as required by the board for admissibility to the certifying examination. All other candidates who have not completed their required training by January 1, 2012 have a board eligible period as indicated by their specialty board to complete the certifi cation process. Additionally, the boards established transition dates for physician candidates who had completed training, but not yet achieved initial certifi cation in a specialty as of the ABMS Board Eligibility s effective date. Those boards chose a date between January 1, 2015 and January 1, 2019 for candidates to achieve initial certifi cation. (5) These Member Boards had board eligibility policies in place prior to the effective date of the ABMS Board Eligibility Policy, and therefore no future transition date is provided. They aligned their board eligible periods with the principles of the ABMS policy. (6) Two pathways for certifi cation may be pursued. Candidates may either complete fi ve years of prerequisite training (General Surgery) and two or three years of Thoracic Surgery, or six years of an integrated Thoracic Surgery program with no prerequisite training. The American Board of Thoracic Surgery will accept a Vascular Surgery residency in lieu of a General Surgery residency as long as the Vascular Surgery training leads to primary certifi cation by the American Board of Surgery.

17 Table 2B: ABMS Member Board Requirements for Subspecialty Certifi cation 15 Subspecialty certification is awarded to candidates who meet the requirements in a component of a specialty or subspecialty. It can be granted to specialists who have been certified by one or more Member Boards in an area of general certification. This table identifies certain specific requirements for initial subspecialty certification from each board, but as presented in this form, the information is over-simplified. To confirm current official policy, including examination requirements and application deadlines and fees, contact the particular board, or visit their website. Footnotes can be found on page 20. These boards do not issue subspecialty certificates: Allergy and Immunology, Colon and Rectal Surgery, Neurological Surgery, Nuclear Medicine, Ophthalmology. Full license required by all boards American Board of Subspecialty Specialty Certifi cation (Current Certifi cate) Years Of Subspecialty Training Required ACGME Accredited(1) Time Limits for Initial Certification (2) Years To Apply After Training Maximum Years To Complete Certification After Application Other Training Credit Accepted n-acgme Accredited Training Anesthesiology (ABA) Critical Care Medicine ABA general certifi cation Hospice and Palliative Medicine ABA general certifi cation 1 12 Pain Medicine ABA general certifi cation Pediatric Anesthesiology ABA general certifi cation Sleep Medicine ABA general certifi cation Dermatology (ABD) Dermatopathology ABD and ABPA general certifi cation or ABD general certifi cation 1-2 Pediatric Dermatology ABD general certifi cation 1-2 Emergency Medicine (ABEM) Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine Emergency Medical Services ABEM general certifi cation ABEM general certifi cation 2 1 limit limit Hospice and Palliative Medicine ABEM general certifi cation 1 limit Internal Medicine-Critical Care Medicine ABEM general certifi cation 2 limit Medical Toxicology ABMS Member Board general certifi cation 2 limit Pain Medicine ABEM general certifi cation 1 limit Pediatric Emergency Medicine ABEM general certifi cation 2 limit Sports Medicine ABEM general certifi cation 1 limit Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine ABEM general certifi cation 1 limit Family Medicine (ABFM) Adolescent Medicine ABFM general certifi cation 2 Geriatric Medicine ABFM general certifi cation 1 Hospice and Palliative Medicine ABFM general certifi cation 1 Pain Medicine Sleep Medicine ABFM general certifi cation ABFM general certifi cation 1 1 Sports Medicine ABFM general certifi cation 1 Internal Medicine (ABIM) Adolescent Medicine ABIM general certifi cation 2 limit limit Adult Congenital Heart Disease ABIM certifi cation in Cardiovascular Disease or ABP certifi cation in Pediatric Cardiology 2 limit limit Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology ABIM certifi cation in Cardiovascular Disease 1 limit limit Cardiovascular Disease ABIM general certifi cation 3 limit limit Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology ABIM certifi cation in Cardiovascular Disease 1 limit limit Critical Care Medicine ABIM general certifi cation 2 limit limit Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism ABIM general certifi cation 2 limit limit RCSPC (3,4)

18 Table 2B: ABMS Member Board Requirements for Subspecialty Certifi cation (continued) Footnotes can be found on page Full license required by all boards American Board of Subspecialty Specialty Certifi cation (Current Certifi cate) Internal Medicine (ABIM) (continued) Years Of Subspecialty Training Required ACGME Accredited(1) Time Limits for Initial Certification (2) Years To Apply After Training Maximum Years To Complete Certification After Application Other Training Credit Accepted n-acgme Accredited Training Gastroenterology ABIM general certifi cation 3 limit limit Geriatric Medicine ABIM general certifi cation 1 limit limit Hematology ABIM general certifi cation 2 limit limit Hospice and Palliative Medicine ABIM general certifi cation 1 limit limit Infectious Disease ABIM general certifi cation 2 limit limit Interventional Cardiology ABIM certifi cation in Cardiovascular Disease 1 limit limit Medical Oncology ABIM general certifi cation 2 limit limit Nephrology ABIM general certifi cation 2 limit limit Pulmonary Disease ABIM general certifi cation 2 limit limit Rheumatology ABIM general certifi cation 2 limit limit Sleep Medicine ABIM general certifi cation 1 limit limit Sports Medicine ABIM general certifi cation 1 limit limit Transplant Hepatology ABIM certifi cation in Gastroenterology 1 limit limit RCSPC (3,4) Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG) (*) Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) Medical Biochemical Genetics Molecular Genetic Pathology (contact ABMGG regarding licensure requirements) ABMGG Clinical Genetics certifi cation or ABMS Member Board general certifi cation ABMGG Clinical Genetics certifi cation or ABPA general certifi cation 1 or Contact ABMGG Critical Care Medicine ABOG general certifi cation See website Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery ABOG general certifi cation See website Gynecologic Oncology ABOG general certifi cation See website Hospice and Palliative Medicine ABOG general certifi cation See website Maternal and Fetal Medicine ABOG general certifi cation See website Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility ABOG general certifi cation See website Orthopaedic Sports Medicine ABOS general certifi cation 1 Surgery of the Hand ABOS general certifi cation 1 Otolaryngology (ABO) Neurotology ABO general certifi cation 2 Pediatric Otolaryngology ABO general certifi cation Plastic Surgery within the Head and Neck ABO general certifi cation Sleep Medicine ABO general certifi cation 1